Untold Stories Of The Torah (Jewish History)

The final installment of the story of the life of Shimshon Hagibor, (Samson and Delilah).

00:00 - Intro

01:36 - Shimshon’s Rulership and End of Leadership

07:06 - Going Down to Azza

17:10 - Marrying Delilah and Understanding Delilah

26:20 - Plishti Officers Bribe Delilah

33:10 - Delilah Pressing for Shimshon’s Power

50:19 - Shimshon’s Blinding and Imprisonment

55:55 - Plishtim’s Celebration Followed by Shimshon’s Revenge

1:06:50 - Shimshon’s Burial and Legacy

Shimshon’s Wife Betrayal
Discussion of Shimshon’s wife is given to another man and the differing opinions on why Shimshon was angry, including betrayal and infidelity.

The Wheat Harvest & Shimshon’s Return
Shimshon returns after a year, bringing a goat to reconcile with his wife, only to discover she’s been remarried. His anger builds, setting the stage for his revenge.

Divine Providence and Timing
Exploration of how Shimshon’s timing coincides with divine providence during the wheat harvest, which amplifies the devastation he is about to unleash.

Shimshon’s Emotional Conflict
Further analysis of Shimshon’s internal conflict, his desire to take his wife back despite her betrayal, and the complexities of his decisions as guided by Hashem.

Shimshon’s Strategic Revenge
Shimshon’s calculated move to reignite conflict with the Plishtim without involving the Jewish people. The destruction of their crops is part of his wider strategy.

Justification for Shimshon’s Actions
Shimshon declares that his revenge against the Plishtim is just and that any mischief he causes is lawful due to their wrongdoings.

The Marriage Controversy
Discussion on the legality of the marriage of Shimshon’s wife to another man and how it publicly justified his vengeance against the entire Plishtim community.

Shimshon’s Foxes and Fire
Shimshon’s revenge method: setting 300 foxes with torches loose in the Plishtim fields, burning their crops, and causing financial ruin during the wheat harvest.

Plishtim’s Retaliation and Shimshon’s Response
The Plishtim investigate Shimshon’s actions, realize his power, and burn his wife and father-in-law alive to appease him. Shimshon, in response, promises greater vengeance.

The Great Slaughter: Hip and Thigh
Shimshon slaughters many Plishtim with a strange tactic, striking them “hip and thigh,” a phrase indicating a chaotic and brutal battle.

Shimshon Hides from the Plishtim
After the battle, Shimshon goes into hiding in a rock crevice, and the Plishtim gather their forces to confront him, aiming to capture him again.

Shimshon Captured and Freed
The men of Yehuda hand Shimshon over to the Plishtim, binding him with ropes. However, divine intervention allows him to break free.

Shimshon’s Victory with the Donkey Jawbone
Using a moist donkey’s jawbone, Shimshon kills 1,000 Plishtim soldiers, emphasizing the miraculous nature of his victory.

Shimshon’s Dehydration and Miraculous Revival
After the battle, Shimshon suffers severe dehydration and calls out to Hashem, who miraculously provides water, reviving him at the last moment.

The Importance of Praising Hashem
The story of Shimshon is connected to the lesson of praising Hashem in everyday life, drawing a parallel to a teaching of the Baal Shem Tov.

Shimshon Judges Israel for 20 Years
After his miraculous victories, Shimshon judges Israel for 20 years, providing protection and leadership against the Plishtim during their oppression of the Jewish people.

Dedicated Leilui nishmas:

- Abba halevi ben zusha

- Aryeh leib halevi ben yaakov

- Nachum hirsh ben efrayim

- Meir yitzchak ben avraham

00:00 - Introduction

00:29 - Shimshon’s Wife Betrayal

01:12 - The Wheat Harvest & Shimshon’s Return

02:25 - Divine Providence and Timing

03:39 - Shimshon’s Emotional Conflict

04:38 - Shimshon’s Strategic Revenge

08:56 - Justification for Shimshon’s Actions

09:57 - The Marriage Controversy

12:00 - Shimshon’s Foxes and Fire

16:26 - Plishtim’s Retaliation and Shimshon’s Response

19:43 - The Great Slaughter: Hip and Thigh

27:06 - Shimshon Hides from the Plishtim

32:02 - Shimshon Captured and Freed

37:22 - Shimshon’s Victory with the Donkey Jawbone

44:00 - Shimshon’s Dehydration and Miraculous Revival

47:14 - The Importance of Praising Hashem

58:32 - Shimshon Judges Israel for 20 Years

Rabbi Aber introduces Untold Stories of the Torah, continuing the story of Shimshon in part four. The focus is on Shimshon’s miraculous killing of a lion, and how this event, though kept secret from his parents, sets the stage for key moments in the wedding and riddle challenge.

Recap of Shimshon’s Lion Encounter
Shimshon’s encounter with the lion and later discovery of honey in its carcass becomes a central theme.

The Wedding Feast and Companions
Shimshon’s father arranges a wedding feast as was customary, and the Philistines assign Shimshon thirty companions due to his isolation.

Debate Over Wedding Feast Duration
There is a debate about whether the wedding celebration lasted seven or fourteen days.

Shimshon’s Riddle Challenge
Shimshon challenges his thirty companions with the famous riddle: Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet.

Companions Fail to Solve the Riddle
For three days, the companions are unable to solve the riddle. Desperate, they pressure Shimshon’s wife to extract the answer from him, threatening to burn her and her father’s household if she refuses.

Shimshon’s Wife Betrays Him
Shimshon’s wife, fearing for her life, pleads with Shimshon to tell her the answer. After days of her nagging, Shimshon finally reveals the solution. She immediately betrays him by telling the companions the answer.

The Companions Solve the Riddle
On the seventh day, just before sunset, the companions approach Shimshon with the solution: What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion? Realizing they cheated by coercing his wife, Shimshon angrily declares, Had you not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle.

Wedding Feasts and Timeline
Rabbi Aber discusses the various interpretations of how the wedding celebrations unfolded. Some believe the riddle was proposed during the seven pre-wedding days, while others argue it was posed after the wedding.

The Threat to Shimshon’s Wife
The class explores the deeper implications of the threat made to Shimshon’s wife by the Philistine companions, who were willing to burn her and her father’s house to the ground if she didn’t provide the answer.

Shimshon’s Suspicions
Shimshon’s cryptic accusation—Had you not plowed with my heifer—hints at a deeper suspicion of betrayal, possibly even that his wife was unfaithful to him.

The Aftermath of the Riddle
After the riddle is solved and Shimshon kills the thirty men to pay off his companions, he leaves in anger. His wife’s father, assuming the marriage is over, gives her to another man, one of Shimshon’s companions.

Shimshon’s Revenge Begins
Learning of his wife’s remarriage, Shimshon’s anger reignites, leading him to take violent revenge on the Philistines, setting the stage for his ongoing battle against them. This is one of the most famous episodes in Shimshon’s story, where his unpredictable and extreme tactics instill fear in his enemies.

Divine Providence in Shimshon’s Actions
The timing of Shimshon’s return and his violent actions align with divine providence, amplifying the devastation he unleashes on the Philistines. This becomes a recurring theme as Shimshon continues his mission to confront the Philistines.

41:30 – Shimshon’s Legacy and Ongoing Conflict
The class concludes by examining the legacy of Shimshon’s actions, which initiated a long and bloody conflict with the Philistines.

Yaakov’s Prediction of Shimshon

Shimshon and Moshiach

Moshe’s prophecy of Shimshon

Birth of Shimshon

Meaning Behind the Name: Shimshon

Shimshon’s Ruach Hashem

What is Ruach HaKodesh?

Shimshon Sees his Wife from Timnah

And Shimshon went down…

Shimshon’s Motive

Did the Woman from Timnah convert before?

Parents Objections to Shimshon’s Marriage

The Fight with the Lion and Meeting His Wife

Returning to the Lion’s Carcass

The War of Sisra, Who was Sisrah?, The Jews who joined the Battle, The War, Sisrah and Yael, History of Yael, Chever and the Keinim, Who was Yael?, Sisrah Seeking Hiding, Killing Sisrah, Sisrah’s Mother, Shiras Devorah, Devorah after the War

Story of Devorah

Devorah was the 4th Judge of the Jewish People. 2654 - 2694. Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 of Shoftim.

The Scene in Israel at the time. King Yavin’s Rise to Power. Devorah and Barack - Marriage and Gilgulim. Devorah the Judge. Devorah’s Teshuvah Movement. Preparing for War (Who was Barak?)

The Story of Machar Chodesh. Convincing Yehonasan of the Danger.